ABSTRACT
The rapid expansion of global agriculture to meet increasing food demand has heightened reliance on synthetic pesticides, raising environmental and health concerns. Biopesticides, derived from natural organisms and compounds, emerge as sustainable alternatives. This paper reviews the status of biopesticide production, commercialization, and application in Vietnam. Over the past decade, Vietnam has established a supportive legal framework, including simplified registration procedures and incentives for the development of biopesticides. As of 2023, more than 800 commercial formulations have been registered, with biochemical products accounting for the largest share, followed by botanical and microbial-based formulations. Domestic research institutions and enterprises have developed production technologies for Bacillus thuringiensis, Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae, Trichoderma spp., and various plant extracts together with phytochemicals such as neem, turmeric, anacardic acid, and essential oils. Despite these achievements, challenges remain, including fragmented production capacity, limited industrial-scale facilities, inconsistent product quality, and relatively high costs compared to chemical pesticides. Furthermore, perceptions of lower efficacy and delayed pest control effects constrain farmer awareness and adoption. The paper highlights both the opportunities and obstacles for scaling up biopesticide production in Vietnam. It provides recommendations to strengthen policies, enhance research–industry collaboration, and promote production towards safe and sustainable agriculture.
Keywords: Biopesticides, Vietnam, plant protection, sustainable agriculture, commercialization, microbial pesticides, botanical extracts
INTRODUCTION
The global population is growing rapidly and is expected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, with most of this increase concentrated in Africa and Asia. This growth will put pressure on agriculture to meet food demand, necessitating increased input intensity in crop production. Human activities have disrupted ecosystems and negatively impacted biodiversity, including urban expansion and reducing agricultural land, overexploitation of natural resources, land degradation, and water pollution. These factors contribute to resource scarcity, while the accumulation of xenobiotics in soil depletes fertility and quality, accelerates erosion, and exacerbates climate change. Vietnam’s agricultural sector must adopt innovative, sustainable strategies to address these challenges and enhance food and input security. These may include using organic fertilizers, increased application of biopesticides, and climate-adaptive practices to improve productivity (Department of Plant Protection, 2023; Mordor Intelligence, 2025; FAO, 2017; Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, 2024; Jitendra et al., 2021).
According to Mordor Intelligence, the global market for biocontrol agents is projected to grow significantly, from an estimated US$ 4.01 billion in 2025 to US$5.63 billion by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.03%. This market is highly competitive and has a low concentration, meaning it's not dominated by a few major players (Mordor Intelligence, 2025). Biopesticides are projected to approach parity with chemical pesticides at this growth rate by 2040 - 2050.
BIOPESTICIDES IN VIETNAM: CURRENT STATUS OF PRODUCTION, COMMERCIALIZATION AND USE
The current status in Vietnam
Policies for the development of biopesticides
In Circular No. 21/2015/TT-BNNPTNT on managing plant protection products, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development issued preferential policies for registering biopesticides compared to chemical pesticides. Policies to relax conditions related to the production and transportation of biopesticides have also been specified in Decree No. 66/2016/NĐ-CP and Decree No. 123/2018/NĐ-CP on investment and business conditions in the agricultural sector (Department of Plant Protection, 2023).
In addition, official documents have outlined other government policies promoting the use and production of biopesticides. These include Decision No. 150/QĐ-TTg dated January 28, 2022, by the Prime Minister approving the Strategy for Sustainable Agricultural and Rural Development for the period of 2021–2030, with a vision to 2050; and Decision No. 885/QĐ-TTg dated June 23, 2020, approving the Project for Organic Agriculture Development for the period of 2020–2030. Both documents set a target to increase the proportion of biopesticides in the List of Authorized Plant Protection Products to over 30% by 2025 (Department of Plant Protection, 2023).
To further promote the development and production of biopesticides, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development issued Decision No. 296/QĐ-BNN-KHCN dated January 16, 2023, approving the Strategy for the Development of Science, Technology, and Innovation in the Agriculture and Rural Development Sector through 2030, with a vision to 2050. In this Decision, the Ministry identified next-generation biotechnology research, transfer, and development - particularly mastering the technology for producing biological formulations such as biopesticides - as a key program in advancing biotechnology (Department of Plant Protection, 2023).
In Vietnam, the category of plant protection products (PPPs) includes chemical pesticides, biopesticides and other authorized agents used to manage harmful organisms in agricultural production. Within this system, biopesticides are formally defined as products of microbial, botanical or biochemical origin that satisfy the regulatory criteria for classification under biological category. According to the current national registration framework, pyrethrin, rotenone and avermectins are not designated as biopesticides. Although each of these active ingredients is recognized as a plant protection product, they are administered entirely outside the biological category under Vietnam’s regulatory system.
Inspection and efficacy testing of biopesticides
State quality control of Plant Protection Products (PPPs)
Quality inspection of PPPs and their residues is key in managing plant protection products. For imported PPPs, 100% of shipments must undergo quality inspection and are only cleared for circulation if they meet quality standards. To date, the Plant Production and Protection Department has designated 12 testing organizations for the quality assessment of PPPs. Among these, 10 organizations have been authorized to conduct testing methods related to biopesticides, and 2 of them have been specifically designated for testing methods tailored to biopesticides based on microorganisms (Department of Plant Protection, 2023).
In Vietnam, as a matter of principle, the registration procedures for domestically produced and imported biopesticides follow the same regulatory pathway; however, several documentation requirements-particularly those related to production processes-are simplified for locally manufactured microbial products in accordance with policies that promote domestic development. Upon importation, biopesticides are subject to mandatory quality inspection, which typically includes verification of active ingredient concentration, assessment of microbial purity and viability for microbial formulations, detection of contaminating organisms or impurities, and evaluation of product stability and basic safety parameters.
Biopesticide field trials
The implementation of biopesticide field trials has been socialized in line with the Government’s policy. The Plant Protection Department has recognized and designated 12 accredited organizations to conduct field trials for PPP registration purposes. Biological PPPs in Vietnam have simplified testing rules compared to chemical ones under Circular 21/2015/TT-BNNPTNT. Only large-scale biological efficacy trials are required (no small-scale trial needed, except for those containing pyrethrins, rotenone, or avermectin), with no isolation period testing except for first-time registration on fruit trees, tea, vegetables, or post-harvest storage. Testing processes are conducted at accredited organizations across at least 2 regions (North-Central-South), over 1 year on 300-500 m² plots per replicate, to assess efficacy and safety. From 2020 to 2023, approximately 20–30 biopesticide products were tested each year, primarily those derived from microbial and biochemical sources.
Biopesticide research and developmentI
n recent years, research on biopesticides has remained limited and under-prioritized, particularly at the national level. Although several studies have been conducted and implemented, applying and transferring this research outcomes into actual production still face many challenges.
Specifically, several pilot production projects have been implemented in recent years to facilitate the transfer and application of biopesticides into actual agricultural production. Several biological, botanical, and non-chemical products have been applied in integrated pest management. These include ENTO-Pro protein bait for controlling fruit flies; SH-1 microbial root-applied preparation; SH-Lifu for controlling root-knot nematodes; BIOFUN1 (Metarhizium) and BIOFUN2 (Beauveria) for managing pests such as aphids, planthoppers, and termites; Phyto-PP1 for treating rubber tree latex loss disease; and other products employing beneficial fungi such as Metarhizium, Beauveria, and Trichoderma. Two domestic products—biological rodenticide baits formulated with microorganisms or botanical extracts and chlorophyll-based plant growth stimulants that enhance photosynthetic performance for more vigorous plant development—have also been developed and produced in Vietnam. Besides, one notable method involves using a biological product containing the nematode Steinernema phuquocense n. sp. S-PQ16 to control cicadas on coffee trees was isolated and preserved by the Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources (Department of Plant Protection, 2023; Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, 2024; Lê et al., 2020).
To date, the transfer and application of research findings on biological plant protection products have not fully met the practical demands of agricultural production, or, in cases where application is feasible, the results have proven unsustainable for long-term use and development.
Registration of biopesticides in Vietnam
Biopesticides officially registered in Vietnam's List of Approved Plant Protection Products include: Microbial-based biopesticides, such as Bacillus thuringiensis, Bacillus subtilis, and Trichoderma spp., constitute approximately 13% of registered biopesticides.
Botanical-based biopesticides: Derived from natural sources like cinnamon oil and extracts from Lychnis viscaria, Azadirachta indica, and others, accounting for around 24%.
However, biochemical pesticides, including abamectin, pyrethrins, spinosad, validamycin, and gibberellic acid, make up approximately 63% (Table 1).
Table 1. Number of biopesticides registered in the List of Approved Plant Protection Products
|
Product group
|
2021
|
2022
|
2023
|
|
Active ingredient
|
Trade name
|
Active ingredient
|
Trade name
|
Active ingredient
|
Trade name
|
|
Microbial
|
31
|
74
|
34
|
78
|
39
|
84
|
|
Botanical
|
59
|
138
|
60
|
140
|
60
|
141
|
|
Biochemical
|
155
|
556
|
154
|
571
|
158
|
585
|
|
Total
|
245
|
768
|
248
|
789
|
257
|
810
|
Ref: Department of Plant Protection, The report of the Conference on "Development of production and use of biological pesticides", November 2, 2023, in Ho Chi Minh City.
Biopesticides registered in the List of Approved Plant Protection Products in Vietnam control the majority of pests on various crops, accounting for 65% of the total number of pest species registered in the list. Among them, the highest number of registered biopesticide products belongs to insecticides and fungicides, followed by plant growth regulators (Table 2).
Table 2. Current biopesticides registered in the List of Approved Plant Protection Products in Vietnam
|
Pesticide type
|
2021
|
2022
|
2023
|
|
Active ingredients
|
Trade name
|
Active ingredients
|
Trade names
|
Active ingredients
|
Trade names
|
|
Insecticide
|
105
|
395
|
104
|
399
|
108
|
408
|
|
Fungicide
|
100
|
246
|
104
|
257
|
107
|
268
|
|
Herbicide
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
|
Rodenticide
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Plant growth regulator
|
28
|
86
|
29
|
93
|
30
|
94
|
|
Molluscicide
|
2
|
30
|
2
|
30
|
2
|
29
|
|
Others
|
8
|
9
|
8
|
9
|
9
|
10
|
|
Total
|
245
|
768
|
248
|
789
|
257
|
810
|
Ref: Department of Plant Protection, The report of the Conference on "Development of production and use of biological pesticides", November 2, 2023, in Ho Chi Minh City.
In 2024-2025, the pesticide ingredient list remained highly diverse. For botanical insecticides, alongside traditional azadirachtin and matrine, newer agents have been applied, for example: annonin (Anonin 1EC), and capsaicin (OAU 01 6.3EW) target diamondback moths; Celastrus angulatus (Ace celaa 1EW, Agilatus 1EC) treats leafhoppers and stem borers. Eucalyptol (Pesta 2SL) and karanjin (Takare 2EC, TT-umax 2EC) combat red spiders and thrips; Garlic juice/oil (Bralic-Tỏi Tỏi 1.25SL, Biorepel 10SL) repels whiteflies. For diseases: Allicin (Garlinker 5ME) and anacardic acid (Amtech 100EW) treat anthracnose/soft rot; Berberine (Antiba 4SL, ET-Hebal 5SL) targets leaf spot. Eugenol (Doyle 12SL, Genol 1.2SL) and carvacrol + eugenol (Senly 2.1SL) treat pink disease; Physcion (Dofine 0.5SL) for powdery mildew/blast; Polyphenols (Chubeca 1.8SL, Anisaf SH-01 2SL) for wilt; Citrus oil (MAP Green 6SL) and Vegetable oil (TP-Zep 18EC) for grain rice blast.
For microbial biopesticides in the 2025 list, the traditional Bacillus thuringiensis, Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae, PXGV (Nosivirus No.1 SC), S. litura NPV (Nosivirus No. 2 WG), and Chromobacterium subtsugae (Grandevo WG) are still in use. Disease control utilizes traditional Bacillus subtilis (Ace Bacis 111WP, Biobac WP) and B. amyloliquefaciens (Serenade SC, Sinsmart SC) for blast/wilt; Trichoderma spp. (TRICÔ-ĐHCT, Bio-Pro Tricho) and Chaetomium cupreum (Ketomium, Vaciline 106SC) protect against root/stem rot. Specific nematicides include Burkholderia sp. (Majestene 94.46 SL), Paecilomyces lilacinus (Bionema 80WP, Nemaces), Verticillium chlamydosporium (Nematodie GR), and Paenibacillus polymyza (Panda). Pseudomonas fluorescens (B Cure 1.75WP), Rhodopseudomonas palustri (Sunfly SC), Rhodovulum sulfidophilum (Uprise SC), and Streptomyces lydicus (Actinovate 1 SP) prevent downy mildew, leaf spot, and anthracnose (Circular No. 75/2025/TT-BNNMT ).
State of Biopesticide Production in Vietnam
Botanical pesticide production
Several active ingredients of biopesticides with pest prevention potential have been studied, applied in production, and registered for permitted use in Vietnam, include: saponin (from camellia seed cake), matrine (Sophora flavescens), azadirachtin (from neem), eugenol (from Ocimum gratissimum), carvacrol (from thyme), polyphenols (from Gleditschia australis, Siegesbeckia orientalis, and the leaves and bark of mango trees – Mangifera indica L.), artemisinin (from Artemisia annua), curcuminoids (from turmeric rhizomes), and various essential oils such as lemon oil, orange oil, cottonseed oil, clove oil, and garlic oil. However, relatively few biochemical products with biological activity, such as pheromones and post-harvest crop protection agents, have been registered. In Vietnam, biopesticide formulations containing active ingredients such as azadirachtin (extracted from neem), matrine (derived from Sophora flavescens), and rotenone (from Derris spp.) are botanical pesticides registered for the control of thrips and various other insect pests on rice, vegetables, fruit trees, tea, and many other crops. Multiple companies and organizations have registered these products under different trade names (Bailey et al., 2011; Jitendra et al., 2021; Lê et al., 2020; Dao et al., 2021).
Plant extraction technology for botanical production
This includes the development of biopesticide formulations derived from plant sources, such as insecticidal products containing active ingredients extracted from the neem tree (Azadirachta indica); the formulation of Chubeca 1.8SL, extracted from Oroxylum indicum and the leaves and bark of Salix babylonica; Amtech 100EW (Anacardic acid), extracted from cashew nut shells. Cinnamon essential oil has also been applied as a nematicide for coffee and black pepper crops. For the botanical-origin PPPs, 141 commercial formulations were registered in the List of PPPs approved for use in Vietnam as of 2023 (Department of Plant Protection, 2023; Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, 2024; Lê et al., 2020; Dao et al., 2021).
Microbial biopesticide production
The technology for producing nuclear polyhedrosis virus (NPV)-based formulations to control crop pests is being actively developed. Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) production technology has been widely applied. The Plant Protection Institute has developed and completed two production processes: Bt formulation production on solid substrates using aerobic fermentation and Bt formulation production using submerged fermentation. Bacillus thuringiensis formulations have been registered in the list of plant protection products approved for use in Vietnam, with a total of 32 registered biopesticide products (Department of Plant Protection, 2023; Lê et al., 2020).
Production technology of entomopathogenic fungi Beauveria bassiana (white muscardine fungus) and Metarhizium anisopliae (green muscardine fungus) for insect pest control: Currently, research and application of Beauveria and Metarhizium fungi in plant protection are being actively maintained and further developed. In Vietnam, six plant protection products containing these fungi have been registered in the List of Approved Plant Protection Products (Department of Plant Protection, 2023; Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, 2024; Lê et al., 2020; Dao et al., 2021).
Production technology of antagonistic fungus Trichoderma sp. for plant disease control: This formulation has been studied and developed by the Plant Protection Institute and Can Tho University, resulting in a complete “Production Technology for Trichoderma-Based Antagonistic Fungal Formulations.”
DISADVANTAGES IN DEVELOPMENT AND COMMERCIALIZATION
The State does not have appropriate and strong enough policies to encourage research, production, trading, and use of biological pesticides.
Recently, our government has been making great efforts to develop the production and use of biological pesticides. Several policies have been issued to encourage the production and use of biological pesticides. The procedures and criteria for registering biological pesticides have been significantly reduced compared to chemical pesticides (exemption from granting certificates of eligibility to produce microbial pesticides; reduced registration fees, reduced number of tests, requirements for documents when registering, etc.).
Although a team of highly qualified scientists exists, we have not yet built a team of leading scientists in biological pesticides to achieve breakthrough research results.
Domestic agencies and organizations that research and produce biological pesticides have been interested in investing in equipment systems. However, investment and maintenance costs are still limited, scattered, and not concentrated, so they have not met the actual needs. Testing and evaluation methods for biological pesticides are still limited in terms of technology. Therefore, agencies and enterprises with the potential for equipment to research and produce biological pesticides on an industrial scale are very few, mainly pilot-scale production lines, even semi-manual, small-scale production, with high cost, farmers find it difficult to accept, bringing low profits, which is not attractive to enterprises investing in this field.
Currently, in Vietnam, biological pesticides are used to limit and gradually replace chemical pesticides in pest control. This is a good trend and should be supported. However, biological pesticides cannot wholly replace chemical pesticides. But it can only be partially replaced due to the following disadvantages:
In the fragmented production conditions in Vietnam, the cost of using biological pesticides, especially microbial pesticides/ha, is higher than that of chemical pesticides, so farmers are less likely to use them.
Up to now, there has not been a close connection between research agencies and enterprises in the research, development, and application of biological pesticides. The diversity of products and available sources on the market is still limited, and consumers' choices and production needs are unmet.
Information and propaganda efforts aim to promote the increased use of biological pesticides. However, awareness and adoption remain limited among many traditional farmers. In this context, agribusinesses and chemical medicine companies continue heavily promoting their products through advertising campaigns, media reports, trade recommendations, and online sales platforms. As a result, despite their potential benefits, bio-based agricultural products still face significant barriers in export markets and broader commercial acceptance.
PROPOSALS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Currently, the regulations for biological pesticides are less complex than those for chemical pesticides; however, several regulatory provisions remain unclear or have not been fully established. The industry management agency must consider and create more favorable conditions for products to access the market quickly, thereby saving costs and time for businesses. Currently, when preparing technical documents for registration, there are often problems. It is necessary to amend the regulations on registration of biopesticides to make them easier than the current regulations.
The State needs to supplement several policies to support, encourage, and provide incentives for organizations and enterprises to invest in biopesticide production technology, such as supporting procedures for technology acquisition, loans, factory land lease, tax and fee incentives for product development, etc. The State should also supplement and prioritize policies to help farmers use biological pesticides and provide funding for agricultural extension programs to apply plant protection topics and project results effectively.
The state must develop a priority plan to establish strong enough human resources for research, production, and technology transfer in biological pesticides. Accordingly, the State should allocate funds to send staff for training; or provide support (in the case of personnel from non-state organizations and enterprises) at reputable and branded facilities in Biotechnology and the field of Plant Protection (both domestically and internationally).
In recent years, although numerous biopesticide production processes have been successfully developed and many products have been registered under commercial names in the list of approved pesticides in Vietnam, the number of industrial-scale production lines remains limited. As a result, production costs remain high, and the quality of biopesticide formulations is inconsistent. There is an urgent need for comprehensive government investment in modernizing infrastructure. The government should also support enterprises that adopt advanced technologies for large-scale biopesticide production, thereby reducing costs and making these products more accessible to farmers.
The government should provide supportive and incentive measures to encourage organizations and individuals to invest in developing, producing, and using biopesticides. Selecting several highly feasible technologies, combined with government investment or project-based assignments, allows enterprises to co-invest in modern production lines for large-scale formulation of biopesticides, thereby reducing product costs.
The government should encourage and support organizations, enterprises, and individuals to invest in developing and utilizing local resources—such as beneficial microorganisms, natural enemies of pests, and plants containing biopesticidal active compounds. These native resources provide Vietnam with a significant advantage in developing raw materials for biopesticide production. In parallel, establishing microbial gene banks and plant genetic resource collections (both indigenous and imported) is essential for selecting, preserving, and maintaining original strains to support research and mass propagation of raw materials for biopesticide manufacturing.
Industry management agencies need to consider establishing a list of some specific biological pesticides with high application potential, commonly used in agricultural production areas around the world, in the region and domestically, which can be exempted from import tax, only considering technical documents, exempting business tax in the first years, reducing environmental fees as a basis for reducing product costs, being accepted by farmers and being able to compete firmly in the market.
Strengthening training and propaganda through websites, printed documents, and mass media dissemination of biological pesticides’ features, effects, and benefits, raise awareness, change farmers' habits of using chemical pesticides, and switch to biological pesticides. On the other hand, communication work needs to pay special attention to consumers and encourage them to choose food produced according to GAP standards, safe organic products with clear traceability.
It is necessary to investigate and assess the status of production and use of biological pesticides in Vietnam. The State and the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment should encourage and support farmers of those areas producing crops of economic and export value, where many pesticides are often used, to adopt the use of biopesticides. Feasible extension models and incentives may include: (1) Developing and building large-scale biopesticide demonstration field models such as Viet GAP models, innovative agricultural models adapting to climate change, and areas granted growing area codes, where farmers are more likely to accept and prioritize the use of biopesticides; and (2) Biological pesticides with the initial price support will contribute to reducing input costs and lowering product prices, thereby give the incentive for farmers to use them .
The state must promote further support research and development activities on biological pesticides, especially new generation biological pesticides. In the immediate future, it is essential to develop a synchronous program that spans from central to local levels to support research activities on the production of biological pesticides. This prioritizes new-generation biological pesticides, builds and replicates models of applying biological pesticides to demonstrate their effectiveness, and fosters confidence among farmers.
It is necessary to promote cooperation between management agencies and agricultural production establishments, with associations and industries participating in implementing the model of using biological pesticides, to build models of linked and effective production chains, thereby combining with media agencies to develop scenarios to disseminate and propagate the models nationwide.
To advance the biopesticide industry, the State must bridge the gap between businesses and research organizations. This involves facilitating knowledge exchanges with international experts to bring cutting-edge technology to domestic production lines. Additionally, collaborating with global industry leaders will help Vietnam formalize rigorous methods and standards for ensuring PPP quality and efficacy.
To incentivize sustainable agriculture, it proposes eliminating import taxes on biopesticides and their associated production lines. To ensure a smooth transition, research institutions should partner with businesses to optimize the combined use of biological and chemical agents. Concurrently, the government should intensify inspections and legal penalties to crack down on low-quality pesticides.
Enhance digital transformation in investment in research, production, registration, use, and propaganda training, to simplify administrative procedures, improve the effectiveness of management, use, and propaganda advertising to expand the scope of application of biopesticides, serving safe and sustainable agricultural production. Training and educating staff and technicians of organizations, enterprises, dealers, and pesticide users to apply digital technology in all related activities.
REFERENCES
Bailey, A., Chandler, D., Tatchell, G. M., Davidson, G., Greeves, J., & Grant, W. 2011. (n.d.). The development, regulation and use of biopesticides for Integrated Pest Management. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 366, 1987–1998. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2010.0390
Circular No. 07/2026/TT-BNNMT of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment: Detailing certain provisions of the Plant Protection and Quarantine Law, the Crop Production Law, and amending, supplementing certain provisions of circulars in the fields of crop production and plant protection.
Circular No. 21/2015/TT-BNNPTNT of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development: On management of plant protection products.
Circular No. 25/2024/TT-BNNPTNT of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (2024) on the List of pesticides permitted for use in Vietnam and the List of pesticides prohibited for use in Vietnam. (n.d.).
Circular No. 75/2025/TT-BNNMT of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment: Promulgating the List of Pesticides permitted for use in Vietnam and the List of Pesticides banned from use in Vietnam.
Dao, H. T., Dao, V. H., Vu, D. H., Le Dang, Q., & Lam, T. D. (2021). (n.d.). Application of botanical pesticides in organic agriculture production: Potential and challenges. Vietnam Journal of Science and Technology, 59(6). https://doi.org/10.15625/2525-2518/59/6/16217
Department of Plant Protection. 2023. (n.d.). The report of the Conference on "Development of production and use of biological pesticides", November 2, 2023, Ho Chi Minh City.
FAO. (2017). (n.d.). Global assessment of the impact of plant protection products on soil functions and soil ecosystems: Section 3 – Pesticides and protection. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome
Jitendra, K., Ramlal, A., Mallick, D., & Mishra, V. (2021). (n.d.). An overview of some biopesticides and their importance in plant protection for commercial acceptance. Sustainability, 10, 1185. https://doi.org/10.3390/su10041185
Lê, Đ. Q., Vũ, Đ. H., Phạm, Q. D., Nguyễn, T. H., & Trần, Đ. L. (2020). (n.d.). Biological pesticides in Vietnam from 2009–2019: Research status and development prospects of biopesticides in Vietnam. Journal of Plant Protection, 5, 50–56.
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Current Status of Production and Commercialization of Bio-Pesticides in Vietnam
ABSTRACT
The rapid expansion of global agriculture to meet increasing food demand has heightened reliance on synthetic pesticides, raising environmental and health concerns. Biopesticides, derived from natural organisms and compounds, emerge as sustainable alternatives. This paper reviews the status of biopesticide production, commercialization, and application in Vietnam. Over the past decade, Vietnam has established a supportive legal framework, including simplified registration procedures and incentives for the development of biopesticides. As of 2023, more than 800 commercial formulations have been registered, with biochemical products accounting for the largest share, followed by botanical and microbial-based formulations. Domestic research institutions and enterprises have developed production technologies for Bacillus thuringiensis, Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae, Trichoderma spp., and various plant extracts together with phytochemicals such as neem, turmeric, anacardic acid, and essential oils. Despite these achievements, challenges remain, including fragmented production capacity, limited industrial-scale facilities, inconsistent product quality, and relatively high costs compared to chemical pesticides. Furthermore, perceptions of lower efficacy and delayed pest control effects constrain farmer awareness and adoption. The paper highlights both the opportunities and obstacles for scaling up biopesticide production in Vietnam. It provides recommendations to strengthen policies, enhance research–industry collaboration, and promote production towards safe and sustainable agriculture.
Keywords: Biopesticides, Vietnam, plant protection, sustainable agriculture, commercialization, microbial pesticides, botanical extracts
INTRODUCTION
The global population is growing rapidly and is expected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, with most of this increase concentrated in Africa and Asia. This growth will put pressure on agriculture to meet food demand, necessitating increased input intensity in crop production. Human activities have disrupted ecosystems and negatively impacted biodiversity, including urban expansion and reducing agricultural land, overexploitation of natural resources, land degradation, and water pollution. These factors contribute to resource scarcity, while the accumulation of xenobiotics in soil depletes fertility and quality, accelerates erosion, and exacerbates climate change. Vietnam’s agricultural sector must adopt innovative, sustainable strategies to address these challenges and enhance food and input security. These may include using organic fertilizers, increased application of biopesticides, and climate-adaptive practices to improve productivity (Department of Plant Protection, 2023; Mordor Intelligence, 2025; FAO, 2017; Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, 2024; Jitendra et al., 2021).
According to Mordor Intelligence, the global market for biocontrol agents is projected to grow significantly, from an estimated US$ 4.01 billion in 2025 to US$5.63 billion by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.03%. This market is highly competitive and has a low concentration, meaning it's not dominated by a few major players (Mordor Intelligence, 2025). Biopesticides are projected to approach parity with chemical pesticides at this growth rate by 2040 - 2050.
BIOPESTICIDES IN VIETNAM: CURRENT STATUS OF PRODUCTION, COMMERCIALIZATION AND USE
The current status in Vietnam
Policies for the development of biopesticides
In Circular No. 21/2015/TT-BNNPTNT on managing plant protection products, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development issued preferential policies for registering biopesticides compared to chemical pesticides. Policies to relax conditions related to the production and transportation of biopesticides have also been specified in Decree No. 66/2016/NĐ-CP and Decree No. 123/2018/NĐ-CP on investment and business conditions in the agricultural sector (Department of Plant Protection, 2023).
In addition, official documents have outlined other government policies promoting the use and production of biopesticides. These include Decision No. 150/QĐ-TTg dated January 28, 2022, by the Prime Minister approving the Strategy for Sustainable Agricultural and Rural Development for the period of 2021–2030, with a vision to 2050; and Decision No. 885/QĐ-TTg dated June 23, 2020, approving the Project for Organic Agriculture Development for the period of 2020–2030. Both documents set a target to increase the proportion of biopesticides in the List of Authorized Plant Protection Products to over 30% by 2025 (Department of Plant Protection, 2023).
To further promote the development and production of biopesticides, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development issued Decision No. 296/QĐ-BNN-KHCN dated January 16, 2023, approving the Strategy for the Development of Science, Technology, and Innovation in the Agriculture and Rural Development Sector through 2030, with a vision to 2050. In this Decision, the Ministry identified next-generation biotechnology research, transfer, and development - particularly mastering the technology for producing biological formulations such as biopesticides - as a key program in advancing biotechnology (Department of Plant Protection, 2023).
In Vietnam, the category of plant protection products (PPPs) includes chemical pesticides, biopesticides and other authorized agents used to manage harmful organisms in agricultural production. Within this system, biopesticides are formally defined as products of microbial, botanical or biochemical origin that satisfy the regulatory criteria for classification under biological category. According to the current national registration framework, pyrethrin, rotenone and avermectins are not designated as biopesticides. Although each of these active ingredients is recognized as a plant protection product, they are administered entirely outside the biological category under Vietnam’s regulatory system.
Inspection and efficacy testing of biopesticides
State quality control of Plant Protection Products (PPPs)
Quality inspection of PPPs and their residues is key in managing plant protection products. For imported PPPs, 100% of shipments must undergo quality inspection and are only cleared for circulation if they meet quality standards. To date, the Plant Production and Protection Department has designated 12 testing organizations for the quality assessment of PPPs. Among these, 10 organizations have been authorized to conduct testing methods related to biopesticides, and 2 of them have been specifically designated for testing methods tailored to biopesticides based on microorganisms (Department of Plant Protection, 2023).
In Vietnam, as a matter of principle, the registration procedures for domestically produced and imported biopesticides follow the same regulatory pathway; however, several documentation requirements-particularly those related to production processes-are simplified for locally manufactured microbial products in accordance with policies that promote domestic development. Upon importation, biopesticides are subject to mandatory quality inspection, which typically includes verification of active ingredient concentration, assessment of microbial purity and viability for microbial formulations, detection of contaminating organisms or impurities, and evaluation of product stability and basic safety parameters.
Biopesticide field trials
The implementation of biopesticide field trials has been socialized in line with the Government’s policy. The Plant Protection Department has recognized and designated 12 accredited organizations to conduct field trials for PPP registration purposes. Biological PPPs in Vietnam have simplified testing rules compared to chemical ones under Circular 21/2015/TT-BNNPTNT. Only large-scale biological efficacy trials are required (no small-scale trial needed, except for those containing pyrethrins, rotenone, or avermectin), with no isolation period testing except for first-time registration on fruit trees, tea, vegetables, or post-harvest storage. Testing processes are conducted at accredited organizations across at least 2 regions (North-Central-South), over 1 year on 300-500 m² plots per replicate, to assess efficacy and safety. From 2020 to 2023, approximately 20–30 biopesticide products were tested each year, primarily those derived from microbial and biochemical sources.
Biopesticide research and developmentI
n recent years, research on biopesticides has remained limited and under-prioritized, particularly at the national level. Although several studies have been conducted and implemented, applying and transferring this research outcomes into actual production still face many challenges.
Specifically, several pilot production projects have been implemented in recent years to facilitate the transfer and application of biopesticides into actual agricultural production. Several biological, botanical, and non-chemical products have been applied in integrated pest management. These include ENTO-Pro protein bait for controlling fruit flies; SH-1 microbial root-applied preparation; SH-Lifu for controlling root-knot nematodes; BIOFUN1 (Metarhizium) and BIOFUN2 (Beauveria) for managing pests such as aphids, planthoppers, and termites; Phyto-PP1 for treating rubber tree latex loss disease; and other products employing beneficial fungi such as Metarhizium, Beauveria, and Trichoderma. Two domestic products—biological rodenticide baits formulated with microorganisms or botanical extracts and chlorophyll-based plant growth stimulants that enhance photosynthetic performance for more vigorous plant development—have also been developed and produced in Vietnam. Besides, one notable method involves using a biological product containing the nematode Steinernema phuquocense n. sp. S-PQ16 to control cicadas on coffee trees was isolated and preserved by the Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources (Department of Plant Protection, 2023; Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, 2024; Lê et al., 2020).
To date, the transfer and application of research findings on biological plant protection products have not fully met the practical demands of agricultural production, or, in cases where application is feasible, the results have proven unsustainable for long-term use and development.
Registration of biopesticides in Vietnam
Biopesticides officially registered in Vietnam's List of Approved Plant Protection Products include: Microbial-based biopesticides, such as Bacillus thuringiensis, Bacillus subtilis, and Trichoderma spp., constitute approximately 13% of registered biopesticides.
Botanical-based biopesticides: Derived from natural sources like cinnamon oil and extracts from Lychnis viscaria, Azadirachta indica, and others, accounting for around 24%.
However, biochemical pesticides, including abamectin, pyrethrins, spinosad, validamycin, and gibberellic acid, make up approximately 63% (Table 1).
Table 1. Number of biopesticides registered in the List of Approved Plant Protection Products
Product group
2021
2022
2023
Active ingredient
Trade name
Active ingredient
Trade name
Active ingredient
Trade name
Microbial
31
74
34
78
39
84
Botanical
59
138
60
140
60
141
Biochemical
155
556
154
571
158
585
Total
245
768
248
789
257
810
Ref: Department of Plant Protection, The report of the Conference on "Development of production and use of biological pesticides", November 2, 2023, in Ho Chi Minh City.
Biopesticides registered in the List of Approved Plant Protection Products in Vietnam control the majority of pests on various crops, accounting for 65% of the total number of pest species registered in the list. Among them, the highest number of registered biopesticide products belongs to insecticides and fungicides, followed by plant growth regulators (Table 2).
Table 2. Current biopesticides registered in the List of Approved Plant Protection Products in Vietnam
Pesticide type
2021
2022
2023
Active ingredients
Trade name
Active ingredients
Trade names
Active ingredients
Trade names
Insecticide
105
395
104
399
108
408
Fungicide
100
246
104
257
107
268
Herbicide
1
1
1
1
1
1
Rodenticide
1
1
0
0
0
0
Plant growth regulator
28
86
29
93
30
94
Molluscicide
2
30
2
30
2
29
Others
8
9
8
9
9
10
Total
245
768
248
789
257
810
Ref: Department of Plant Protection, The report of the Conference on "Development of production and use of biological pesticides", November 2, 2023, in Ho Chi Minh City.
In 2024-2025, the pesticide ingredient list remained highly diverse. For botanical insecticides, alongside traditional azadirachtin and matrine, newer agents have been applied, for example: annonin (Anonin 1EC), and capsaicin (OAU 01 6.3EW) target diamondback moths; Celastrus angulatus (Ace celaa 1EW, Agilatus 1EC) treats leafhoppers and stem borers. Eucalyptol (Pesta 2SL) and karanjin (Takare 2EC, TT-umax 2EC) combat red spiders and thrips; Garlic juice/oil (Bralic-Tỏi Tỏi 1.25SL, Biorepel 10SL) repels whiteflies. For diseases: Allicin (Garlinker 5ME) and anacardic acid (Amtech 100EW) treat anthracnose/soft rot; Berberine (Antiba 4SL, ET-Hebal 5SL) targets leaf spot. Eugenol (Doyle 12SL, Genol 1.2SL) and carvacrol + eugenol (Senly 2.1SL) treat pink disease; Physcion (Dofine 0.5SL) for powdery mildew/blast; Polyphenols (Chubeca 1.8SL, Anisaf SH-01 2SL) for wilt; Citrus oil (MAP Green 6SL) and Vegetable oil (TP-Zep 18EC) for grain rice blast.
For microbial biopesticides in the 2025 list, the traditional Bacillus thuringiensis, Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae, PXGV (Nosivirus No.1 SC), S. litura NPV (Nosivirus No. 2 WG), and Chromobacterium subtsugae (Grandevo WG) are still in use. Disease control utilizes traditional Bacillus subtilis (Ace Bacis 111WP, Biobac WP) and B. amyloliquefaciens (Serenade SC, Sinsmart SC) for blast/wilt; Trichoderma spp. (TRICÔ-ĐHCT, Bio-Pro Tricho) and Chaetomium cupreum (Ketomium, Vaciline 106SC) protect against root/stem rot. Specific nematicides include Burkholderia sp. (Majestene 94.46 SL), Paecilomyces lilacinus (Bionema 80WP, Nemaces), Verticillium chlamydosporium (Nematodie GR), and Paenibacillus polymyza (Panda). Pseudomonas fluorescens (B Cure 1.75WP), Rhodopseudomonas palustri (Sunfly SC), Rhodovulum sulfidophilum (Uprise SC), and Streptomyces lydicus (Actinovate 1 SP) prevent downy mildew, leaf spot, and anthracnose (Circular No. 75/2025/TT-BNNMT ).
State of Biopesticide Production in Vietnam
Botanical pesticide production
Several active ingredients of biopesticides with pest prevention potential have been studied, applied in production, and registered for permitted use in Vietnam, include: saponin (from camellia seed cake), matrine (Sophora flavescens), azadirachtin (from neem), eugenol (from Ocimum gratissimum), carvacrol (from thyme), polyphenols (from Gleditschia australis, Siegesbeckia orientalis, and the leaves and bark of mango trees – Mangifera indica L.), artemisinin (from Artemisia annua), curcuminoids (from turmeric rhizomes), and various essential oils such as lemon oil, orange oil, cottonseed oil, clove oil, and garlic oil. However, relatively few biochemical products with biological activity, such as pheromones and post-harvest crop protection agents, have been registered. In Vietnam, biopesticide formulations containing active ingredients such as azadirachtin (extracted from neem), matrine (derived from Sophora flavescens), and rotenone (from Derris spp.) are botanical pesticides registered for the control of thrips and various other insect pests on rice, vegetables, fruit trees, tea, and many other crops. Multiple companies and organizations have registered these products under different trade names (Bailey et al., 2011; Jitendra et al., 2021; Lê et al., 2020; Dao et al., 2021).
Plant extraction technology for botanical production
This includes the development of biopesticide formulations derived from plant sources, such as insecticidal products containing active ingredients extracted from the neem tree (Azadirachta indica); the formulation of Chubeca 1.8SL, extracted from Oroxylum indicum and the leaves and bark of Salix babylonica; Amtech 100EW (Anacardic acid), extracted from cashew nut shells. Cinnamon essential oil has also been applied as a nematicide for coffee and black pepper crops. For the botanical-origin PPPs, 141 commercial formulations were registered in the List of PPPs approved for use in Vietnam as of 2023 (Department of Plant Protection, 2023; Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, 2024; Lê et al., 2020; Dao et al., 2021).
Microbial biopesticide production
The technology for producing nuclear polyhedrosis virus (NPV)-based formulations to control crop pests is being actively developed. Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) production technology has been widely applied. The Plant Protection Institute has developed and completed two production processes: Bt formulation production on solid substrates using aerobic fermentation and Bt formulation production using submerged fermentation. Bacillus thuringiensis formulations have been registered in the list of plant protection products approved for use in Vietnam, with a total of 32 registered biopesticide products (Department of Plant Protection, 2023; Lê et al., 2020).
Production technology of entomopathogenic fungi Beauveria bassiana (white muscardine fungus) and Metarhizium anisopliae (green muscardine fungus) for insect pest control: Currently, research and application of Beauveria and Metarhizium fungi in plant protection are being actively maintained and further developed. In Vietnam, six plant protection products containing these fungi have been registered in the List of Approved Plant Protection Products (Department of Plant Protection, 2023; Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, 2024; Lê et al., 2020; Dao et al., 2021).
Production technology of antagonistic fungus Trichoderma sp. for plant disease control: This formulation has been studied and developed by the Plant Protection Institute and Can Tho University, resulting in a complete “Production Technology for Trichoderma-Based Antagonistic Fungal Formulations.”
DISADVANTAGES IN DEVELOPMENT AND COMMERCIALIZATION
The State does not have appropriate and strong enough policies to encourage research, production, trading, and use of biological pesticides.
Recently, our government has been making great efforts to develop the production and use of biological pesticides. Several policies have been issued to encourage the production and use of biological pesticides. The procedures and criteria for registering biological pesticides have been significantly reduced compared to chemical pesticides (exemption from granting certificates of eligibility to produce microbial pesticides; reduced registration fees, reduced number of tests, requirements for documents when registering, etc.).
Although a team of highly qualified scientists exists, we have not yet built a team of leading scientists in biological pesticides to achieve breakthrough research results.
Domestic agencies and organizations that research and produce biological pesticides have been interested in investing in equipment systems. However, investment and maintenance costs are still limited, scattered, and not concentrated, so they have not met the actual needs. Testing and evaluation methods for biological pesticides are still limited in terms of technology. Therefore, agencies and enterprises with the potential for equipment to research and produce biological pesticides on an industrial scale are very few, mainly pilot-scale production lines, even semi-manual, small-scale production, with high cost, farmers find it difficult to accept, bringing low profits, which is not attractive to enterprises investing in this field.
Currently, in Vietnam, biological pesticides are used to limit and gradually replace chemical pesticides in pest control. This is a good trend and should be supported. However, biological pesticides cannot wholly replace chemical pesticides. But it can only be partially replaced due to the following disadvantages:
In the fragmented production conditions in Vietnam, the cost of using biological pesticides, especially microbial pesticides/ha, is higher than that of chemical pesticides, so farmers are less likely to use them.
Up to now, there has not been a close connection between research agencies and enterprises in the research, development, and application of biological pesticides. The diversity of products and available sources on the market is still limited, and consumers' choices and production needs are unmet.
Information and propaganda efforts aim to promote the increased use of biological pesticides. However, awareness and adoption remain limited among many traditional farmers. In this context, agribusinesses and chemical medicine companies continue heavily promoting their products through advertising campaigns, media reports, trade recommendations, and online sales platforms. As a result, despite their potential benefits, bio-based agricultural products still face significant barriers in export markets and broader commercial acceptance.
PROPOSALS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Currently, the regulations for biological pesticides are less complex than those for chemical pesticides; however, several regulatory provisions remain unclear or have not been fully established. The industry management agency must consider and create more favorable conditions for products to access the market quickly, thereby saving costs and time for businesses. Currently, when preparing technical documents for registration, there are often problems. It is necessary to amend the regulations on registration of biopesticides to make them easier than the current regulations.
The State needs to supplement several policies to support, encourage, and provide incentives for organizations and enterprises to invest in biopesticide production technology, such as supporting procedures for technology acquisition, loans, factory land lease, tax and fee incentives for product development, etc. The State should also supplement and prioritize policies to help farmers use biological pesticides and provide funding for agricultural extension programs to apply plant protection topics and project results effectively.
The state must develop a priority plan to establish strong enough human resources for research, production, and technology transfer in biological pesticides. Accordingly, the State should allocate funds to send staff for training; or provide support (in the case of personnel from non-state organizations and enterprises) at reputable and branded facilities in Biotechnology and the field of Plant Protection (both domestically and internationally).
In recent years, although numerous biopesticide production processes have been successfully developed and many products have been registered under commercial names in the list of approved pesticides in Vietnam, the number of industrial-scale production lines remains limited. As a result, production costs remain high, and the quality of biopesticide formulations is inconsistent. There is an urgent need for comprehensive government investment in modernizing infrastructure. The government should also support enterprises that adopt advanced technologies for large-scale biopesticide production, thereby reducing costs and making these products more accessible to farmers.
The government should provide supportive and incentive measures to encourage organizations and individuals to invest in developing, producing, and using biopesticides. Selecting several highly feasible technologies, combined with government investment or project-based assignments, allows enterprises to co-invest in modern production lines for large-scale formulation of biopesticides, thereby reducing product costs.
The government should encourage and support organizations, enterprises, and individuals to invest in developing and utilizing local resources—such as beneficial microorganisms, natural enemies of pests, and plants containing biopesticidal active compounds. These native resources provide Vietnam with a significant advantage in developing raw materials for biopesticide production. In parallel, establishing microbial gene banks and plant genetic resource collections (both indigenous and imported) is essential for selecting, preserving, and maintaining original strains to support research and mass propagation of raw materials for biopesticide manufacturing.
Industry management agencies need to consider establishing a list of some specific biological pesticides with high application potential, commonly used in agricultural production areas around the world, in the region and domestically, which can be exempted from import tax, only considering technical documents, exempting business tax in the first years, reducing environmental fees as a basis for reducing product costs, being accepted by farmers and being able to compete firmly in the market.
Strengthening training and propaganda through websites, printed documents, and mass media dissemination of biological pesticides’ features, effects, and benefits, raise awareness, change farmers' habits of using chemical pesticides, and switch to biological pesticides. On the other hand, communication work needs to pay special attention to consumers and encourage them to choose food produced according to GAP standards, safe organic products with clear traceability.
It is necessary to investigate and assess the status of production and use of biological pesticides in Vietnam. The State and the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment should encourage and support farmers of those areas producing crops of economic and export value, where many pesticides are often used, to adopt the use of biopesticides. Feasible extension models and incentives may include: (1) Developing and building large-scale biopesticide demonstration field models such as Viet GAP models, innovative agricultural models adapting to climate change, and areas granted growing area codes, where farmers are more likely to accept and prioritize the use of biopesticides; and (2) Biological pesticides with the initial price support will contribute to reducing input costs and lowering product prices, thereby give the incentive for farmers to use them .
The state must promote further support research and development activities on biological pesticides, especially new generation biological pesticides. In the immediate future, it is essential to develop a synchronous program that spans from central to local levels to support research activities on the production of biological pesticides. This prioritizes new-generation biological pesticides, builds and replicates models of applying biological pesticides to demonstrate their effectiveness, and fosters confidence among farmers.
It is necessary to promote cooperation between management agencies and agricultural production establishments, with associations and industries participating in implementing the model of using biological pesticides, to build models of linked and effective production chains, thereby combining with media agencies to develop scenarios to disseminate and propagate the models nationwide.
To advance the biopesticide industry, the State must bridge the gap between businesses and research organizations. This involves facilitating knowledge exchanges with international experts to bring cutting-edge technology to domestic production lines. Additionally, collaborating with global industry leaders will help Vietnam formalize rigorous methods and standards for ensuring PPP quality and efficacy.
To incentivize sustainable agriculture, it proposes eliminating import taxes on biopesticides and their associated production lines. To ensure a smooth transition, research institutions should partner with businesses to optimize the combined use of biological and chemical agents. Concurrently, the government should intensify inspections and legal penalties to crack down on low-quality pesticides.
Enhance digital transformation in investment in research, production, registration, use, and propaganda training, to simplify administrative procedures, improve the effectiveness of management, use, and propaganda advertising to expand the scope of application of biopesticides, serving safe and sustainable agricultural production. Training and educating staff and technicians of organizations, enterprises, dealers, and pesticide users to apply digital technology in all related activities.
REFERENCES
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Circular No. 21/2015/TT-BNNPTNT of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development: On management of plant protection products.
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